[jen7009]

I just passed a milestone I hadn't really been thinking of but am SOOOO excited to have passed, and I just had to share with someone(s!) who would know what I mean and why it's so exciting.

I'm now 4 weeks and 4 days out from my SCS implant, and I have been diligently following BLAST and doing my best to be careful. I went back to my (desk) job 2 weeks ago, and things have been pretty routine. Over the past week or so I found myself occasionally having a small startle/smidge of panic and thinking "did the stim area change again? Is it still on?", because for a few minutes I forgot the SCS was on. I am a really big worrywart so the fact that I didn't actively notice/think about the stim for even a few minutes was HUGE!

Then, the best part. This past weekend, I drove over to my Grandma's with my hubby. We hung out and I puttered around with Grandma for most of the day, and when we got ready to leave I got in the car and suddenly realized...

I had gone an entire day without thinking about/noticing/worrying about my SCS. It was on, it helped me be a "normal" person, and I didn't have to spend the whole day thinking about my pain, or whether it was working to dampen my pain--I just lived. Did I still hurt? Yes, of course/unfortunately. Was it better than the pain before the SCS? Absolutely. And am I eternally grateful for this respite? Beyond a doubt. Even if I only get this one experience of being able to "forget" my pain for a while, it was a sublime experience I didn't think I'd ever be able to have again.

So, to milestones--and to forgetting without knowing we've forgotten! For a moment or a day or a lifetime, I'm celebrating!

[Hannabananna]

just Glorious!!!!!!!


sharing your joy

thanks
Johanna

[Mark56]

Isn't that just the BEST?!?!?!

Yea for you, Jen

[eva5667faliure]

Originally Posted by jen7009

I just passed a milestone I hadn't really been thinking of but am SOOOO excited to have passed, and I just had to share with someone(s!) who would know what I mean and why it's so exciting.

I'm now 4 weeks and 4 days out from my SCS implant, and I have been diligently following BLAST and doing my best to be careful. I went back to my (desk) job 2 weeks ago, and things have been pretty routine. Over the past week or so I found myself occasionally having a small startle/smidge of panic and thinking "did the stim area change again? Is it still on?", because for a few minutes I forgot the SCS was on. I am a really big worrywart so the fact that I didn't actively notice/think about the stim for even a few minutes was HUGE!

Then, the best part. This past weekend, I drove over to my Grandma's with my hubby. We hung out and I puttered around with Grandma for most of the day, and when we got ready to leave I got in the car and suddenly realized...

I had gone an entire day without thinking about/noticing/worrying about my SCS. It was on, it helped me be a "normal" person, and I didn't have to spend the whole day thinking about my pain, or whether it was working to dampen my pain--I just lived. Did I still hurt? Yes, of course/unfortunately. Was it better than the pain before the SCS? Absolutely. And am I eternally grateful for this respite? Beyond a doubt. Even if I only get this one experience of being able to "forget" my pain for a while, it was a sublime experience I didn't think I'd ever be able to have again.

So, to milestones--and to forgetting without knowing we've forgotten! For a moment or a day or a lifetime, I'm celebrating!

dear friend
i am thrilled you could go a whole day without
having any interruption with your SCS maybe just
maybe i'll cave and have no choice but have one
planted in to cover the pains
until then i have stories such as yours to hear
God bless as you are blessed

[Rrae]

Jen! Yayyy!
You have ARRIVED!

[jen7009]

WOO HOO!!!! Today is my six week anniversary--six short(long) weeks ago I was joined together with my SCS implant, for better or for worse, 'til death (or extensive surgery) do us part. The honeymoon was great, and while there have been bumpy periods as we learned to live together, life as a "newlywed" is amazing. Just like my first marriage (to my human husband, still married, not sure if this makes me a bigamist? ), my SCS has changed my life for the better, helping me keep ahold of the happiness I knew I could find (and deserved), making daily life so much easier and supporting me as I go places I couldn't go on my own.

Now I just have to hold out until the 12th, when I get the official sign-off from the doc and (yay!) my AdaptiveStim programming.

It's funny, I married my wonderful husband, light of my life, on Sept. 17, 2005, and in the past 8 years we've spent our anniversary or near-anniversary in the hospital 4 times for me to have surgery or treatments. My doc told us this year that his anniversary present to us this year was to help keep me out of the hospital for our anniversaries to come--looks promising so far!

Thanks so much to you all for your support and encouragement!
Jen

[St George 2013]

THAT is absolutely wonderful news ! Gonna be a good day at my house. Thanks for sharing.

I've been told by 2 pain dr's to get the implant and I may seriously think about now after reading that you actually spent a WHOLE day and never thought about it.

WOW......so happy for you !

Debi from Georgia

[Rrae]

Welcome to the SCS Forum!

Do stick around! There's lots of great support here and plenty of testimonies to read. Keep us updated on your progress!

Rae

[MimiJeanne]

I'm completing my Medtronic SCS trial today and am seriously considering moving forward with the surgery. It is wonderful to hear about good outcomes. I tested the device a lot this weekend, and found pain relief even when it was turned off. I am going to discuss my results with my physiatrist today, but I am leaning toward having the implant. I get the most pain when working in the kitchen, and I had to turn the amplitude up to 4.0 to get relief in my right hip and leg. My leg was very tired after that. But I did more this weekend than I have done in a long time. That gives me hope.

[MDinpain]

That's what an scs does. It makes it better. Doesn't fix it. Lets you feel more normal. More stamina. For me it's given me road biking. Road biking = hope and a chance to go do something physical with friends. I'm actually getting fast (cause it's all i do !!). Even though the energy is surging up legs, that respite from feeling pain related disability is priceless. To have one thing for me i really enjoy - priceless. If only work were so easy!! My best to you all.